At Christmas with Mick Sterling

Biography

Performance arrangements: 9 person cast | 6-piece band and 3-piece dramatic cast along with 2-person production team


Family-fueled comedy and drama for the Holidays.

AT CHRISTMAS is a unique blend of family fueled comedy and drama brilliantly written and performed by (3) alumni of Dudley Riggs Brave New Workshop, Shannon Custer, Michelle Cassioppi and Jim Robinson, as well as a live, 6-piece band featuring one of Twin Cities’ favorite front men, Mick Sterling, and A Brave New Workshop’s musical director, Peter Guertin.

The presentation of AT CHRISTMAS is wonderfully simple and minimal. What drives AT CHRISTMAS are the stories and the music that will ring true with family members of all ages. The 90-minute show is a reflection of what the holidays are for all families – funny, poignant and heart-warmingly tender. These reflections will be displayed theatrically while the music score of A Brave New Workshop Musical Director, Peter Guertin, leads the band with his own original score, along with Sterling leading his band as they perform surprisingly fresh interpretations of recognizable Christmas favorites.


The Cast


Shanan Custer – Shanan is an alumni of the Brave New Workshop and has written and performed in many Twin Cities comedy hits such as 2 Sugars, Room for Cream (Fresh Ink Series, Illusion Theater, Minneapolis), Pride and Plot of Pointlessness, From Here to Maternity (Top Ten selling show in 2007 MN Fringe Festival), and Mary Loves Joseph: A Wonderful Love Story with PickALine Productions, of which she is a founding member. Upcoming projects include 4 Destinies with Theater Mu at the Mixed Blood Theater as well as a remount of the top-selling 2011 MN Fringe hit Smothers Brothers Grimm with Comedy Suitcase. In addition to performing and writing, Shanan teaches at St. Catherine University and University of St. Thomas. She is also a Teaching Artist at the Guthrie Theatre.


Jim Robinson – Jim is a veteran of A Brave New Workshop and the Off-Beat Comedy Club onboard the Disney Magic. Jim is an executive producer for Table Salt Productions where he co-wrote the original musical Love After Hours and the holiday show Spiked! His show with Joshua Will (Danger: Will/Robinson) has another limited run at the Bryant-Lake Bowl this October. Other projects include Pride and Plot of Pointlessness; Results Not Typical (with Julie Grover and Brian Beatty); and the voices of a monk, thug, and anonymous phone caller in the Nepalese martial arts film Gorkha Protector. Off-stage, Jim teaches psychology at St. Catherine University and the University of St. Thomas.


Michelle Guertin – Michelle is a veteran of Dudley Riggs’ A Brave New Workshop. She has also worked with many local theatres including Old Log , Illusion, History and Jungle Theatres.


The Band


Mick Sterling – Mick’s music career spans over 30 years and his name is one of the most-recognized on the Twin Cities’ music scene. Sterling’s long-time band, The Stud Brothers, was inducted into the MidWest Music Hall of Fame. He is the founder of the non-profit organization, The 30-Days Foundation. He was also the founder of the Heart & Soul concerts for One Heartland (formerly Camp Heartland, a place for kids impacted by HIV/AIDS) which raised nearly $500,000.


Peter Guertin - Peter has been Music Director of The Brave New Workshop since 1989, with 70 plus shows to his credit. He has written music for video and film and has written music for many shows, including Dudley: Rigged for Laughter, which enjoyed a successful run at St. Paul's, History Theater.


Lisi Wright – Violin – Lisi (aka Elisa) is president of New Folk Booking and fiddle player for The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra. Her background spans the genres of classical, country, bluegrass and rock.


Lehto & Wright – Guitars, Bass and Percussion - A talented trio whose own original music finds itself in the folk-rock realm. They are the foundation for At Christmas’ fantastic musical ensemble.